Suction brush for venetian blinds



Feb. 4, 1958 E. J. KASPER SUCTION BRUSH FOR VENETIAN BLINDS mimin*" Illlln I I INVENTOR. Elmel'tjinf ATTORZVEYS Filed April 13, 1954 UnitedStates Patent SUCTION BRUSH FOR VENETIAN BLINDS Elmer J. Kasper,Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Royal Applliance Mfg. Co., Cleveland, Ohio,a corporation ofO in Application April 13, 1954, Serial No. 422,815

7 Claims. (Cl. 15-394) This invention relates to a cleaner for the slatsof Venetian blinds and the like. More particularly it pertains to aduster for use with a suction cleaner.

One of the problems in cleaning slats of Venetian blinds with a brush isthat most of the loose dirt and dust is brushed oif and settles on lowerslats. This problem arises particularly with prior Venetian blind brushattachments for suction cleaners which are cumbersome and have too muchbrush with too little suction provided in the immediate vicinity of thebrush bristles.

In addition, there is the problem of marring, scratching or chippingpaint from the slats, by the hard surfaces of the cleaning implement.

Further, many implements are awkward to handle not only because they aretoo bulky to manipulate between slats, but because the confronting endsof the brush bristles are so disposed that the implement must be heldrigidly perpendicular to the slat, and it must be moved carefully overthe surfaces in order to achieve proper cleaning.

Finally, such implements usually are relatively expensive compared withthe cost of other suction cleaner attachments. One part of the expenseinvolves the metal parts that must be machined and finished for customerappeal. The other part of the expense is the use of specially fabricatedbrushes attached to the implement.

Accordingly, it is one object of the present invention to provide animproved suction cleaner attachment for brushing the slats of Venetianblinds having a single strip of brushes to be applied to each side of aslat and having a suction area not only surrounding each row of bristlesbut also disposed through the space between confronting bristles.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an implement ofmaterial which neither mars, scratches or chips paint from the slats.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improvedimplement which is easy to manipulate because it is easily insertedbetween and over the slats and because it need not be held rigidly withrespect to the slat as it is moved therealong, but may be tilted orrotated to achieve maximum cleaning.

Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a newsuction cleaner attachment for cleaning the slats of Venetian blindswhich is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and simple to assembleand disassemble.

These and other objects and advantages apparent to 7 best mode in whichthe applicant has contemplated applying the principles-is set forth inthe following description, and which is particularly and distinctlypointed out'and set forth in the appended claims forming part hereof.

The nature of the improvements in Venetian blind 2,821,736 Patented Feb.4, 1958 cleaning attachments of the present invention may be stated ingeneral terms as preferably including a cylindrical tubular head portionone end of which is adapted for connection to suction inlet of a suctioncleaner and the other end of which has an integral bifurcated portion,the head also having an integral partition wall between the bifurcatedportion and the tubular portion through which extends a pair ofpassages, a channel in the confronting sides of each furcation, thesides of which channel are inclined slightly toward each other, a lipintegral with each furcation and extending from the outer edge thereoftoward the longitudinal axis of the bifurcated portion so as to overlapthe end of its corresponding channel, and a sinuous brush element havinga head portion detachably mounted in each channel, the head of eachbrush being narrower than the channel, the bristles of each brushextending toward each other and terminating in a spaced relationship,the brushes being endwise insertable and removable by bending the lipout of the overlapping position, each of said passages communicatingbetween one of the channels, and the tubular portion having its centeraligned with the plane of the confronting face of the correspondingfurcation.

By way of example, a preferred embodiment of the improved Venetian blindcleaning attachment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forminga part thereof, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of improved suction brush,showing the manner in which it is applied to the slat of a Venetianblind;

Fig. 2 is a plan view partly broken away showing the manner in which onebrush element is mounted;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the suction brush;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged end view of the suction brush with the brushelements omitted;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the suction brush, taken on theline 55, Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the brush elements showing themanner in which it is bent; and,

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, showing the manner inwhich a lip portion of the suction brush is bent to permit insertion andwithdrawal of a brush element.

Similar numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the drawing.

In Fig. l, a suction brush or implement, generally indicated at 10, isshown disposed over a slat 12 of a Venetian blind. One end of thesuction brush or implement 10 is detachably mounted on the end of asuction tube 14 which extends from a source of suction, such as aconventional suction cleaner.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the suction brush 10 comprises a head 16having a tubular portion 18 and a bifurcated portion 20 which portionsare disposed along a longitudinal axis of the brush. It is the tubularportion 18 which is inserted into the open end of the tube 14 (Fig. 1).The brush head 16 is preferably made of an elastic material.

The bifurcated portion 20 consists of furcations, fingers or arms 22 and24 which extend from the central portion of the implement 10 where thereis disposed a partition wall 26 separating the interior of the tubularportion 18 from the bifurcated portion 20. However, communicationbetween these portions is provided by means of a pair of passages 28 and3t) which extend through the partition wall 26 and are parallel with thelongitudinal axis of the implement 10. Further description of thesepassages, together with their pertinence to the operation of theattachment, will be set forth hereinbelow.

The furcations or arms 22 and 24 are provided with channels 32 and 34,respectively, which extend longitudinally and centrally of the armsthroughout the greater part of their length. Each channel 32 and 34 isdisposed in its respective arm 22 and 24 with its opening in the innerside thereof and is provided with slightly inclined sides extending froma base 36 as shown in Figs. 4- and 5. Centrally of each base 36 is agroove 38 which is coextensive with each channel 32 and 34. The end ofeach channel 32 and 34 adjacent the partition wall 26is-partiallyaligned with one of the passages 23 and 30, respectively. As shown inFig. 4 the center axis of each passage 28 and 30 is aligned with theplane of the inner surfaces of the corresponding arms 22 and 24 withwhich said surfaces are associated. These surfaces are herein referredto as confronting faces 40 and 42 on the arms 22 and 24, respectively.The ends of the arms 22 and 24 remote from the partition wall 26 includea pair of lips 44 and 46 which extend from the outer portions of thearms and are turned inwardly to overlap the channels 32 and 34 as shownin Fig. 3. The brush 10 including all of the foregoing described partsis embodied in an integral unit which is preferably fashioned frommolded rubber.

The rest of the assembly consists of a pair of oppositely disposed brushelements 48 and 50 which are mounted in the channels 32 and 34,respectively, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The bristles of each brushelement 48 and 50 are retained within a metal channel member 52, havinginwardly inclined sides (Fig. 5). Each brush element 48 or 50 is arelatively simple article of manufacture, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6,being an element cut to desired length from an elongated sinuous brushstrip commonly made and available on the market.

Referring to Fig. 5, the width of each channel 32 and 34 is greater thanthe width of each channel member 52 constituting the head of the brushelement. Each element is seated within its corresponding channel whereit is retained in an upright position by its sinuous shape whichprovides contact between the inclined sides of each channel member 52and the inclined walls of each channel 32 and 34. When the channelmembers 52 are properly seated within the channels 32 and 34, eachchannel member abuts the base side 36 throughout its length as shown inFig. 5. Thus the brush elements 48 and 50 are maintained assemreplaced,they may be withdrawn in the manner just'described.

The confronting edges of the bristles of the brush elements 48 and 50are so spaced (Fig. 3) that upon insertion around a slat of a Venetianblind, there is contact with the opposite surfaces of the slat no matterhow the brush or implement 10 is held. Thus the brush spacing and theshape of the fingers 22 and 24, in addition to the sinuous shape of theoppositely disposed brush elements, permits the tool to be rolled (orturned) from side to side, without binding as the tool 10 is moved alongthe slat 12. That is, it is not necessary to hold the brush 10 firmly inone position during use; and the spacing of the bristles together withthe shape of the brush elements permits the ordinary variations whichare normal to the movement of the human hand. Furthermore, the fingershape, location and arrangement does not limit the amount of twisting towhich the tool may be subjected in use.

Since the tool 10 is composed of rubber rather than of metal or otherhard material, the tool may be used and freely moved in any mannerwithout danger of marring, scratching or chipping paint from thesurfaces of the slats.

In addition, the overall design of the tool incorporating elongated,slender lines having relatively narrow furcations or arms 22 and 24,renders it possible to insert the tool over the slat surfaces betweenthe tapes and cords on which the slats are ordinarily suspended.Moreover, the inward turning of the lips 44 and 46 facilitates suchinsertion.

bled without maintaining close tolerances in the manufacture of elements48 and and the rubber fingers 22 and 24.

The groove 38 provides the means through which suction extends from thepassages 28 or 30 in the partition wall 26 throughout the length of eachchannel 32 and 34. Satisfactory suction zones are thereby provided oneach side of each brush element throughout the length thereof, becausethe grooves communicate with portions of the channels on either side ofthe brush elements and with the passages 28 and 30. The location of thepassages 28 and 30 is such that a portion of each passage serves thechannel with which it is associated and the other portion serves thearea of the brush elements 48 and 50 between the confronting bristles.

In order to provide an uninhibited movement of suction toward thepassages 28 and 30, the end portions of the bristles of each element aresevered at 54 (Fig. 6) so that the ends of the channel members 52 abutthe partition wall 26 and the end of the bristles is thereby spaced fromits corresponding passage.

Further, the bristles may be notched as shown in Fig. 7 as analternative brushing edge to enhance both the brushing action of thebristles and the suction zones along the bristles.

Referring to Fig. 7, the brush elements 48 and 50 may be inserted orwithdrawn from their positions within the channels 32 and 34 by bendingthe lips 44 and 46 outwardly from their normal positions. This ispossible due to the fact that the head 16 is composed of elasticmaterial. Accordingly, when brush elements 48 and 50 are to be Thesuction brush 10 includes relatively inexpensive parts; namely, anintegral suction head having a bifurcated portion 20 and a tubularportion 18 fabricated from an elastic material, such as molded rubber,vinyls, and the like; and a pair of brush elements 48 and 50 which maybe cut to desired length from brush strip material available for amultitude of purposes. The combination of such elements enables a brushof the type described to be made at a price substantially lower thanbrushes for Venetian blinds which are fabricated from metal parts andincorporate brush elements of special design.

Moreover, the particular construction and arrangement of the improvedtool 10 and particularly the relative location of and small size of theopenings 28 and 30, with respect to the ends of the brush bristles, aresuch that swift suction air currents move across the ends of thebristles as the tool is being manipulated and moved to clean a slat.These air currents entrain substantially all the dust dislodged by thebristles as the air currents are sucked through openings 28 and 30, sothat no dust drops loosely from the slat being cleaned to one or moreslats below the same.

- A common difficulty with prior suction cleaner Venetian blind cleaningtools is the brushing of dust from the slats loosely from the slats outof range of the suction or air currents induced through the tool. Thisdifiiculty is magnified when prior tools are not held with the bristleends parallel to the surfaces being cleaned. With the improved toolconstruction, the tool may be turned or otherwise manipulated as it ismoved along a slat to effectively dislodge the dust particles from theslat surfaces, and at the same time such dislodged dust is entrained inthe high suction air currents passing along the ends of the bristles.

Finally, the particular arrangement of the brush bristles in a narrowand preferably sinuous strip shape enables the brushes to conform to anyof the usual cross sectional Venetian blind slat shapes whether fiat orcurved.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a new and different suctionbrush, implement or tool for cleaning Venetian blinds which incorporatesthe new and advantageous features described, overcomes prior artdifficulties, and solves longstanding problems in the art.

I claim:

' 1. A suction cleaning brush for slat blinds comprising a head having atubular portion at one end and having a bifurcated portion at the otherend, the head also having a partition wall separating the bifurcatedportion from the tubular portion, the furcations having a longitudinalchannel in each of their confronting t'aces, each furcation having aresilient lipped end portion remote from the tubular portion extendinginwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the bifurcated portion andnormally overlapping the end of its corresponding channel, brushelements including head and bristle portions, each end portion beingmovable between overlapping and nonoverlapping positions, one of saidbrush head portions being detachably mounted in each channel, thebristles of each brush element extending towards the other andterminating in spaced relationship with respect to each other, the brushelements being endwise insertable in and re movable from said channelsby moving the lips outwardly from overlapping positions, the partitionwall having a pair of passages therethrough, each passage communicatingbetween one of the channels and the tubular portion, and the greaterportions of the sides of each brush element being spaced from the sidesof the corresponding channel, whereby the sides of the brush elementsare within range of air currents movable through the passages.

2. A suction cleaning brush for slat blinds comprising a head having atubular portion at one end and having a bifurcated portion at the otherend, the head also having a partition wall separating the bifurcatedportion from the tubular portion, the furcations having a longitudinalchannel in each of their confronting faces, each channel having sidesinclined towards each other, each furcation having a resilient lippedend portion remote from the tubular portion extending inwardly towardthe longitudinal axis of the bifurcated portion and normally overlappingthe end of its corresponding channel, brush elements including head andbristle portions, each end portion being movable between overlapping andnonoverlapping positions, one of said brush head portions beingdetachably mounted in each channel, the bristles of each brush elementextending towards the other and terminating in spaced relationship withrespect to each other, the brush elements being endwise insertable inand removable from said channels by moving the lips outwardly fromoverlapping positions, the partition wall having a pair of passagestherethrough, each passage communicating between one of the channels andthe tubular portion, each brush element having a head narrower in crosssection than the channel, each brush element being longitudinallysinuous in shape, and the overall width of each sinuous brush elementbeing as wide as the channel.

3. The suction cleaning brush construction of claim 2 in which eachchannel is provided with a groove in the base side coextensive with thelength of the channel.

4. The suction cleaning brush construction of claim 2 in which thecenter of each passage is aligned with the plane of the confronting faceof the corresponding furcation.

5. The suction cleaning brush construction of claim 4 in which thetubular portion, the bifurcated portion, the lips, and the partitionwall are integral.

6. The suction cleaning brush construction of claim 5 in which theintegral member is composed of elastic material.

7. The suction cleaning brush construction of claim 6 in which thebristles of the brush are notched.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS890,987 Kindel June 16, 1908 1,671,334 White May 29, 1928 2,290,894Rivanov July 28, 1942 2,608,710 Zaidan Sept. 2, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS124,330 Germany Oct. 8, 1901

